Perak BN Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir today officially open the ‘Pangkor Democracy Bridge’ at a formal ceremony attended by cabinet ministers, ambassadors from Britian and Switzerland, and high ranking officials (Tourism and International Trade and Industry ministries) from Putrajaya.
As expected, historians have already expressed this milestone in Perak’s history to have equal significance as the 1874 Pangkor Treaty.
With the opening of this bridge, Pangkor will no longer be a sleepy fishing village, a low-key tourist destination or as in the past, a refuge of pirates and fishermen; Lumut will finally wake up from its slumber.
Zambry has issued a statement stating that the BN in Perak refused to be outdone and outshone by the ‘Tree of Democracy’ in Ipoh, championed by Pakatan Rakyat in the tussle for control of the government in 2009.
The Democracy Bridge which was built by the internationally renowned Swiss Construction Company Alp Foloir is a joint venture effort with a local consortium, which is also responsible for the West Coast Highway project. The multi-million cost will be recouped by this local consortium in a 50-year concession.
Construction on the bridge started on the mainland, close to the mouth of the Dindings River at Damai Laut in February 2009 using the latest multi-cable, fan arrangement technology, as in the famous Millau Viaduct in France. The Democracy bridge terminates close to Kampung Sungai Pinang Kecil on Pangkor Island.
The political debacle that engulfed Perak cost the state millions in terms of lost revenue, investment and in the end, achieved precious little. However, with the construction of the Pangkor Democracy Bridge, people of various races, religions and from all walks of life will be able to shelve their differences and work together to promote unity, peace and stability.
By opening up Pangkor, the authorities are confident the extra investment will steer Perak towards economic recovery, drum up foreign interest, stimulate growth and regeneration. The bridge is the link from poverty to progress, a span for all people from the poor to the well-heeled.
After the 2004 Tsunami, tourism to the island dipped slightly. With the bridge, tourist numbers will swell as people would be able to drive into and around Pangkor, unlike in the past, when transport was permissible for government-controlled vehicles.
Foreign investment to the islands will boost existing industries in fishing, aquaculture and tourism. By the time the bridge is completed, the world economy would have picked up and specialist high-tech industries are expected to compete for the various incentives that the state government will announce at today’s Democracy Bridge ceremony.
Land would be cheaper than in Penang which is already at critical capacity. Labour can easily be sourced from the outlying districts of the mainland and with the bridge, transport to and from work would no longer pose a problem.
The airport would be upgraded to take more advanced Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) aircraft such as those commonly utilised in London’s City Airport – Europe’s most successful business airport which has similar constraints of space. Both business travellers and people on holiday would be able to come to Pangkor in increased numbers. Perak Tourism has already expressed interest in promoting the Democracy Bridge.
The nearby naval port would have a separate jetty for commercial container ships. This is to ensure easy transportation of goods from the nearby factories.
The road structure of the island would also be enhanced so that tourists and businessmen can take advantage of the facilities on the island. Currently, Lumut is a fairly sleepy fishing town except on weekends but with the Democracy Bridge, businesses and visitors to both Lumut and Pangkor would be expected to rise considerably, on a fairly regular basis.
Instead of a 30-40 minute ride on the ferries, it would only be a short eight-minute drive on the bridge. To cope with future vehicular traffic, the proposal is for a four-lane bridge.
In keeping with the green credentials of the government, the Pangkor forest reserve with its rich abundance of exotic birds and plant species will be maintained. Buildings or factories will not be built within 1,000 metres of the reserve.
Many people will salute this Democracy bridge and see it as a link to progress, peace and public confidence.
Before anyone gets work up over this, this is an April Fool’s joke.
